Ontario Senior Caregiver Action Network (OSCAN)

FASD Resource Guide 2022

OSCAN is grateful to Health Nexus for sponsoring creation of this support and education group and development of this resource guide. 

Group Leaders: Nancy Lockwood, Elspeth Ross, Barbara Sabourin

Registered Social Worker: Angela Geddes, MSW, RSW, YTT

Group Facilitator: Nancy Lockwood

In 2021, Ottawa FASD advocates Nancy Lockwood, Elspeth Ross, and Barbara Sabourin were brainstorming ways to support older caregivers of adults with FASD. Older caregivers were telling them they felt their needs were not being addressed by regional services: the Ontario FASD Worker program only supports children and youth, and local support groups tend to focus on the challenges experienced by younger families such as navigating the school system. 

Nancy and Elspeth applied to Health Nexus for funding to start a provincial group for senior caregivers through the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services’ FASD Family / Caregiver Support Group Project and received a one-year grant. Goals of the group were to explore and share resources in Ontario to address the needs of senior caregivers of adults with FASD in order to reduce caregiver stress; build peer support; and assist with lifetime planning. A Social Worker, Angela Geddes, was hired to co-facilitate monthly group meetings. Topics were chosen based on the most common challenges facing group members. At the end of the grant cycle, the group would create a resource guide with information shared at meetings by members, facilitators and guest speakers.